וַיֵּ֤רַע הַדָּבָר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמְר֔וּ תְּנָה־לָּ֥נוּ מֶ֖לֶךְ לְשָׁפְטֵ֑נוּ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃ פ
And the matter was evil in the eyes of Shemuʾel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Shemuʾel prayed to YHWH.
Morphology
- וַיֵּ֤רַע (vayyeraʿ) – Root: רעע (raʿaʿ); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And it was evil”; Notes: Expresses distress or disapproval.
- הַדָּבָר֙ (ha-davar) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Noun, masculine singular definite; Translation: “the matter”; Notes: Refers to the request for a king.
- בְּעֵינֵ֣י (be-ʿeine) – Root: עין (ʿayin); Form: Noun, dual construct; Translation: “in the eyes of”; Notes: Expresses perception.
- שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Shemuʾel) – Root: שמואל (Shemuʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shemuʾel”; Notes: The prophet Samuel.
- כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (kaʾasher) – Root: אשר (ʾasher); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “when”; Notes: Introduces a subordinate clause.
- אָמְר֔וּ (ʾamru) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they said”; Notes: Refers to the elders of Yisraʾel.
- תְּנָה־ (tenah) – Root: נתן (natan); Form: Qal imperative 2nd person masculine singular with cohortative suffix; Translation: “Give”; Notes: A request or demand.
- לָּ֥נוּ (lanu) – Root: ל (l-); Form: Preposition with 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “for us”; Notes: Specifies the recipients.
- מֶ֖לֶךְ (melekh) – Root: מלך (melekh); Form: Noun, masculine singular; Translation: “a king”; Notes: Desired ruler.
- לְשָׁפְטֵ֑נוּ (le-shofteinu) – Root: שפט (shafat); Form: Infinitive construct with preposition and 1st person plural suffix; Translation: “to judge us”; Notes: Specifies function.
- וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל (vayyitpallel) – Root: פלל (palal); Form: Hitpael wayyiqtol (consecutive imperfect) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “and he prayed”; Notes: Reflexive form indicates personal involvement in prayer.
- שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Shemuʾel) – Root: שמואל (Shemuʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Shemuʾel”; Notes: Subject of the verb.
- אֶל־ (el) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition; Translation: “to”; Notes: Indicates direction.
- יְהוָֽה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name of God.